Circuit-controller for smoke and fire detecting devices.



J. WARSHAWSKY, ABRAHAM RODACK 6L AARON RODACK. CIRCUIT CONTROLLER FOR SMOKE AND FIRE DETECTING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 2. 1914. 1,200,153. Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1914. 1200.153. Patented 0m. 3,1916.

2 SHLETSSHET 2.

woe va or/6' JACOB WARSHAWSKY, 0F

JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, AND ABRAHAM RODACK AND AARON RODACK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER FOR SMOKE AND FIRE DETECTING DEVICES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

Application filed November 2, 1914. Serial No. 869,909.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JAcon VVARsHAwsKY, ABRAHAM RODAGK, and AARON RoDAoK, all subjects of the Emperor of Russia, residing at 388 Communipaw avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey; 883 Longwood avenue, New York, N. Y., and 3630 Broadway, New York, N. Y., respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Controllers for Smoke and Fire Detecting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a novel device for detecting smoke and fire, and the objects and advantages of the invention are set forth hereinafter in part, and in part will be obvious herefrom.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and forming a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and taken together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

()f the drawings :Figure l is an elevation of a device constructed in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing the bottom part of Fig. 1, looking from the right, with certain parts in section; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line AB of Fig. 1 looking downwardly; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the lower part of Fig. l, on an enlarged scale, with external parts broken away, showing the device set; Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4 showing the device after it has been set oif by the smoke or hot gases, and Fig. (3 is a view looking at Fig. 5 from the left.

Referring by way of example to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, there are provided means for detecting smoke or like hot gases, that is which are operated thereby to actuate the fire fighting device, such as an alarm gong, or a switch or other control for a sprinkler system. The embodied form of such means comprises a vane, preferably of relatively large surface extent and of comparative lightness, said vane being nicely balanced so as to be very sensitive to the movement of the smoke and hot gases. In such preferred form, the vane is horizontally arranged, that is with its fiat faces horizontal, and it is mounted on bearings to move or swing vertically, the yane being counter-balanced about its bearings by a suitable counter-weight, or by a companion vane. In the drawing, two such vanes 1 and 2 are provided, connected together by supporting pieces 3 and 4, which are attached respectively to the vanes, both supporting pieces being connected to a ring 5. The ring has at either side, intermediately of the points of attachment of the vanes, knife bearings (S and 7, upon which the vanes and their connections normally rest in a horizontal position, but susceptible to vertical movement when the vanes are impinged upon by the smoke or ascending hot gases. The knife bearings 6 and 7 rest respectively on recessed supports 8 and 9, upon which they are free to rock or vibrate as just described.

In the embodied form, a single central, vertically disposed hollow tube 10 is provided as a support for the device, said tube being conveniently attached to the ceiling, as shown at 11. llncircling the tube 10 is a collar 12, to which collar the supports 8 and 9 for the knife bearings are fixed, either integrally or by suitable attaching means such as screws 18 and ll. The collar 12 is movable along the tube 10 from one position to another, as desired, to secure regulation or adjustment between the vane or vanes and the fire fighting device controlled thercby, whereby the degree of sensitivcncss of the device may be regulated, as later more fully described. A clamping screw 15 serves to hold the ring 12 in position upon or along the tube 10.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, means are provided for protecting the vane or vanes from the effect or action of cross drafts, and the embodied form of such means comprises a vertically disposed band or wall 20 arranged extcriorly about the vanes, the band being of such height or extent as may be found to yield the best practical results in any particular position in which the device may be installed. The wall or band 20 is suitably supported, as by a series of wires 21 attached thereto, and also attached to a collar 22, which collar encircles the tube 10 and is fixed in position upon the tube in any suitable manner.

In accordance with certain features of the invention, the fire fighting device is electrically controlled, and in the embodied form thereof circuit-closing means are controlled or operated by the movement of the vane or vanes when impinged upon by smoke or hot gas. In the embodied form, a supporting plate screwed to the bot tom end of the tube 10 by an internally threaded union 24 fastened to plate 23 by a bolt and engaging an exterior thread on tube 10. The circuit wires are conveniently carried within the tube 10, and a circuit wire 26 is grout ed on the plate 23 by a suitable binding post :27. The other circuit wire 5 is connected by a binding post to a plate 30, supported upon but insulated from the plate A. switch 31 is pivotaliy mounted at upon the plate 23. The switch 81 is thus adapted to close the circuit by contacting with a suitably shaped projection 31 on the plate 30 when in the position shown in Fig. 5. To insure such circuit closing contact, a flat spring 33, mminted upon a post 34, presses against a lug 35 on the switch 31.

Means are provided for maintaining the switch 31 in the open circuit position against the action of its spring 35. In the embodied form thereof, a detent lever 36 is pivotally mounted at 37, and has a detent hook 38, which hook when in the position shown in Fig. 4 is adapted to engage and hold the tail, or right hand end, of the switch 31. The detent lever 36 is impelled to the disengaging position by spring 39, as shown in Fig. 5, which spring is conveniently mounted upon the post 34.

Means are provided for setting the device, that is for moving the switch from the circuit closing position, shown in Fig. 5, to the open circuit position, shown in Fig. 4, and for leaving the switch in position to be operated or released through suitable controlling connections to be later described by the movement of the vane or vanes. In the embodied form of such means, a threearmed lever 40 is pivotally mounted at 41 upon the plate 23. One arm of said lever is pivotally connected to a sliding bar 42, which bar is supported and guided by a pin and slot connection 43 with the plate 23, the slot being inclined to give free movement of the device. A suitable hand pull 44 is connected to the plate. 42. The arm 46 of the lever 40 has an outwardly projecting pin 47, adapted to engage with the tail of the switch 31, which projects thereover. As the lever 40 is rocked, the pin 47 swings the switch from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 and then permits the switch to come back to the full line position of Fig. 4 when the detent lever 86 is safely in the engaging position. The arm 49 of lever 40 has an outwardly extending pin 50 adapted to engage the detent lever 36 which lies thereover and to move it inwardly, or to the left, from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 4, to enga e and hold the switch 31. The bow spring 51 acts to restore the lever 40 to the position shown in Fig. 4. Stop pins 52 and 53 limit the movement of the detent lever 36.

In the embodied form of controlling or releasing means between the vane or vanes and the mechanism just described, a bellcrank lever 54 is pivotally supported at 55 upon the plate 23, and has a horizontally extending arm 56 having a hook 57 adapted to take over and hold the upper end of detent lever 36 when in the position shown in Fig. 4, that is when holding the switch 31 in open circuit position against the action of spring 33. The other arm 58 of lever 54 extends upwardly into operative relation with an arm 59 fixed to the ring 5 centrally of the knife support 7. The lever 59 is bifurcated and spread outwardly at its lower end shown at 60 in the drawin A stop pin 62 may be provided to limit the upward throw of the bellcrank lever 54.

There is preferably provided a pivoted contact piece 61, which may be thrown from the full line position shown in Fig. 4 (in which it constituted an operative connection between the arm 59 and bell-crank lever 58) to the dotted line position of Fig. 4, in which position of said contact piece there is no operation of the lever 58 by the arm 60. By vertical adjustment of the collar 12 along the tube 10, the spreading bifurcated end 60 of lever 59 may be raised or lowered with respect to the contact piece 61. thereby requiring a greater or less movement of the vane or vanes to set off or release the device, and thus accurately controlling its sensitiveness or responsiveness.

A counter-balance 63 is provided for restoring and maintaining the vane or vanes in equilibrium, said counter-balance being preferably attached to the ring 5 opposite to the arm 59 and extending downwardly from the ring. A spherical protecting cover may be employed and such cover is indicated in the drawings by numeral 68. The cover may be in halves, and be connected together horizontally by fastening devices.

The form of fire fighting means shown for illustration is a continuously ringing electrical gong or bell 65 in circuit with the wires 26 and 28, and having a suitable source of energy 66 in circuit therewith. It will be understood however, that various other forms of devices, such as a control for a sprinkler system might be used with or in place of said signal.

\Vhen the device is set as shown in Fig. 4, the circuit through the wires 26 and 28 is open or dead. Should smoke or other hot gas arise and impinge against the vane or -vanes, they will rock about their bearings and the arm 59 through contact piece 61 will rock bell-crank lever 54 to lift detent hook 57 clear of the arm 36. Arm 36 will move to the right in Fig. 4: under the impulsion of its spring 39, thus releasing the switch 31. The switch 31, by the action of its spring 33, will be rocked to the position shown in Fig. 5, thus closing the circuit through the wires 26 and 28 and thereby actuating the fire fighting device. The device is reset by pulling upon the rod 4% thereby through the rocking of the lever 40, as previously described, moving the switch 31 from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4, at the same time forcing lever 36 to the left to cause it to engage the tail of switch 31 as it moves backwardly as shown in Fig. 4. When the rod 44: is released, spring 51 swings the three arm lever 40 to the position shown in Fig. i, the device being now set and ready for use as shown in Fig. 4.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the particular or specific form of mechanism herein shown or described but changes may be made therein, within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

\Vhat we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A circuit closer for a smoke and fire detecting device, comprising a horizontally disposed counterbalanced vane or actuating member, supporting means for the vane or actuating member permitting an angular movement of the vane above and below the horizontal plane, and means actuated by the angular movement of the vane adapted to control an electric circuit.

2. A circuit controller for a smoke and fire detecting device comprising, a supporting member, a horizontally disposed counterbalanced vane or actuating member pivoted intermediate its ends to oscillate freely in space on said support above and below its normal position and means actuated by the oscillation of the vane and adapted to control an electric circuit.

3. A circuit controller for a smoke and fire-detecting device, comprising a horizontally disposed counterbalanced vane or actuating member free to oscillate above and below its normal horizontal position, a support on which said vane or actuating member is mounted, a horizontally disposed ring mounted on said support, open at its upper and lower ends, and inclosing the said vane or actuating member, and means actuated by the oscillation of the vane and adapted to control an electric circuit.

4. A circuit controller for a smoke and fire detecting device comprising, a supporting means, a horizontally disposed counterbalanced vane or actuating member pivoted on said supporting means to oscillate freely in space above and below its normal position and a circuit controller having a releasing member controlled by said oscillating vane or actuating member.

5. A circuit controller for a'smoke and fire detecting apparatus comprising a horizontally disposed counterbalanced vane or actuating member free to oscillate vertically above and below its normal position, a support on which the vane or actuating member is mounted, and a circuit controller having a releasing member controlled by said oscillating vane or actuating member and a manually operated setting device for the circuit breaker.

6. A circuit controller for a smoke and fire detecting apparatus comprising a vertical support provided with bearings at or near its lower end, a horizontally disposed, vertically oscillating, counterbalanced duplex vane mounted at the juncture of its two members on the said bearings to oscillate above and below its normal horizontal position, horizontally disposed open ended rings connected to the support and forming a wall surrounding or inclosing the vane, a casing on the lower end of the support, and a circuit controller in the casing having a releasing member in the path of a part or projection of said vane.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JACOB WARSHAWVSKY. ABRAHAM RODACK. AARON RODACK. Witnesses:

JOHN D. MORGAN, LOUISA LOEHR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

